Customer Reviews

Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander: A Novel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a fellow librarian who appreciates historical romance novels and as a woman currently dating a bisexual man, I was so very excited to read this novel. However, it was a painful read that left me feeling as if I had been wasting my time. The heroine comes so close to being likable, and then disappoints time and again. My least favorite moment was after her "almost rape" where she decided that she hadn't really been raped so it shouldn't be a big deal. Because, you know, violent and potentially deadly sexual assault in your own house by your husband's servant only counts if your attacker completes "intercourse". There were many passages I had to read out loud to my friends so they could be mocked and I often had to close the book in annoyance. I think that had the book gone through a few more revisions and had the characters been thought through a bit more, it could have been a perfectly fine book. I am willing to give this author another chance, should she write something else. I would recommend getting this book from your local public library rather than purchasing it if you really want to read it.

This book is a winner! Reminiscent of the best of the period-piece Merchant Ivory film scripts, it is written with style and wit, peeking behind the closed doors of the gay life of 1812 London and exploding in an engaging and lively plot peopled with vivid characters from all walks of life. There's a painter, a cryptographer, a writer, a scullery maid, a spy, a scoundrel, lords and ladies. Moods range from tough to tender; hysterical to noble; hilarious to solemn. Filled with sophisticated humor, zesty sex, believable dialogue, and passion, this literary romance is a refreshing romp through uncharted but timely bi-sexual territory. Author Herendeen is one worldly writer!

Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander is the story of Phyllida, an author of trashy gothic romances, and her bisexual husband, Andrew Carrington. Andrew married Phyllida in order to do his duty by his family and secure an heir. Phyllida married Andrew in order to be able to continue her career as an authoress. Both went into the marriage with open eyes, knowing Andrew would continue his dalliances with his male friends (in the titular Brotherhood of Philander). Neither expected to fall in love with the other.

Reading Phyllida reminded me greatly of quite a few fanfics I enjoy. There's a three-sided relationship: Andrew and Phyllida, Andrew and his lover(s), and his lover(s)'s friendship with Phyllida. Add in some spying and there you go. Oh, and did I mention it's a Regency novel?

The book is...okay. It is not stunning, nor is it horrible. Like I said, it reminds me very much of many fanfics I have read. The author weaves the lives of the characters - not only Phyllida and Andrew, but those of the entire Brotherhood - in and out of each other throughout the novel, and throws in a spy subplot to (it seems) draw the entire story out another two hundred pages. I would have been happy without the spy subplot, just reading the story of Andrew, Phyllida, Harry, Matthew, and the rest of the Brotherhood.

I stayed up all night to read the last two hundred pages, because I was engrossed with the characters' stories. However, I don't think I'll be borrowing this from the library again, nor will I be purchasing it any time soon.

Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander is a "bisexual regency romance." I had not read a romance novel in a while; I've read all types, from Danielle Steel and Belva Plain to the Harlequin romance novels.

When I got the book, I was taken aback -- this was not the size of a trade paperback. I started reading it, and was happy to find that it is well-written. This book is not "well-written for a romance novel;" it's "well-written." Period.

In fact, I received it on a weekend and read half on Saturday, and stayed up Sunday night finishing it. It captivated me until Monday morning at 1 am, and it was worth going to work tired that day.

While one of the characters had "piercing blue-gray eyes," nobody had a "heaving bosom" or a "throbbing tool" or any of the other standard romance novel cheesy descriptions. The plot was actually worthwhile -- this is not a romance novel where the reader dog-ears the sex scenes for later reading. This is a novel where an adult audience can find a fun bisexual romance dealt with in a 19th century way.

The characters are three-dimensional, which is more than I expect from a romance novel. The references to another contemporary (1812) author was amusing.

Overall, a great read. To find out more about the book, the author's note (copied at the end) sums up the character of the book well. The book is a must read for any romantics out there, anyone who likes romance novels, and anyone who enjoys reading a well-written book. 5 stars!

Author's description:

Andrew Carrington is the ideal Regency gentleman: heir to an earldom, wealthy, handsome, athletic-and gay. When he decides to do his duty to his family, he wants marriage on his terms: an honest arrangement, with no disruption to his way of life. But in the penniless, spirited-and curvaceous-Phyllida Lewis, a self-educated author of romances, Andrew gets more than he bargained for, perhaps even love. And when he meets honorable, shrewd-and hunky-Matthew Thornby, son of a self-made baronet, Andrew seems to have everything a man could desire, until a spy and blackmailer tries to ruin him and his friends.

The fragile understanding developing between Andrew and his bride is shattered when Phyllida is attacked, and her assailant threatens to denounce her husband if she tells. She must deceive Andrew to protect him. But Andrew discovers the truth and, devastated by his first experience of failure, seems in danger of losing his wife, his lover, his very manhood itself. Only with Matthew's help can Andrew and Phyllida acknowledge their feelings and find their way to lasting love.

"Phyllida" introduces an intrepid heroine and an engaging and sympathetic group of characters, members of an exclusive establishment for gentlemen who prefer the company of their own sex. A diverse assortment of personalities, the Brotherhood of Philander is bound together by sexual preference in a world where the law brands gay men as outlaws and leaves them vulnerable to extortion.

Moving from familiar scenes of society balls, theater parties and midnight suppers, to the witty conversations, games of chance and intimate pleasures at London's most aristocratic "madge club," "Phyllida" takes the reader into a little-known side of Regency life. In this unusual romantic comedy, a bisexual man makes the best husband-for both his wife and his lover.

In 1812 London, as a future earl Andrew Carrington knows he must begat the heir and the spare; thus he must find an appropriate wife who will not be upset with his dalliances as his sexual preference is males. He thinks he found the perfect spousal breeder in impoverished romance author Phyllida Lewis, who he admires and believes he might love. Andrew deems life is good when on top of meeting and marrying the understanding Phyllida, he makes the acquaintance of baronet heir Matthew Thornby.

Andrew's perfect world splinters when a blackmailer tries to extort money from him. Worse someone molests his charming Phyllida, but forces her silence with the threat to expose her husband. Though she hides the truth, Andrew learns what happened to her. Feeling like a loser, Andrew wonders what he can do to protect his beloved wife and his cherished lover from harm.

This fabulous erotic Regency romance stars three likable fully developed individuals with diverse personalities who bring a different look at the usual locales and suspects that frequent sub-genre novels. The story line is fast-paced as the audience knows from the title that Andrew is atypical of the normal historical romantic novel hero. His relationships with Phyllida and Matthew are beautifully portrayed and his feelings of inadequacy are caused because he cherishes and loves both of them. Humorous and satirical as Ann Herendeen skewers the ethics of the Ton (and by implication modern day American hypocritical claims of morality) PHYLLIDA AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF PHILANDER is a superbly written bisexual regency romance.

Harriet Klausner

Phyllida and the brotherhood of Philander suffers by comparison with Georgette Heyer's historical romances, written between 1921 and 1972. Set in Regency England, Heyer "created a world of manners and morals where laughter is a great corrective and healer" (Jane Aiken Hodge, The private world of Georgette Heyer, 1984, profusely illustrated from Heyer's very extensive research files). Many have attempted to duplicate her work but few have succeeded, certainly Herendeen has failed. Her bisexual historical thriller plods along with many twists and turns. The characters seem lifeless. The language stilted. There is very little humor. Herendeen reveals a superficial awareness of Regency England's history, culture and fashion. I wondered about the names she gave her characters. They appear comically inappropriate or borrowed from Heyer. An inauspicious debut.

Plucky authoress, Phyllida enters into a marriage of convenience with a twist. Sure, she's pressured by her somewhat disreputable mother to marry, but she's not desperate, by any means. She's got her writing and she's not ancient nor ugly, nor particularly wanting a husband. But Andrew Carrington, heir to an Earldom, is much more pleasant than she expected; quite gentlemanly and understanding... and handsome. He looks like he could be one of the characters of her sensationalist gothic romances, fact.

Despite herself, she's smitten, even though the agreement is that he be free to pursue his own pleasure, which happens to be with other men, and that she be free to write her books. In a further twist, it seems as if Andrew becomes more interested in his bride than anyone anticipated and he isn't going through the motions merely to beget an heir.

Marrying Andrew not only causes difficulties for Phyllida because he has no idea of how to have a relationship (sexual or otherwise) with a woman, she also has to contend with the Brotherhood of Philander, Andrew's friends, members of a select gentleman's club founded so that men of like interest could feel safe and free to pursue their particular interests, in this case, other men, of course. And at White's there is a bet on whether Andrew will spawn an heir or not. Added to this is a French spy who may bring down the Brotherhood in scandal and ruin.

The tone is light and quite bawdy, full of amusing banter and fun situations (and sex, not gratuitous, but explicit enough). The club members, from the founding members of the previous generation, to the young bucks, are all a hoot. There are also darker tones to balance out the fluff a bit: hints of the dangers the men face committing sodomy, which is a grave offense, the looming possibility of blackmail, soldiers, the war and espionage, slavery, prostitution and attempted rape.

At times the plot and cast of characters did seem to distract from the relationship between Phyllida and Andrew--and the male love Andrew finds later. The character development also suffers a little. But they were all still quite sympathetic (with flaws).

I found this book imperfect, but still extremely enjoyable.

I started reading romances when I was a sub-teen with my aunts' and mother's Georgette Heyer Regency books. Heyer was an intelligent author whose historical research on the Regency period was unmatched. (One of her books was used as a study subject on the Battle of Waterloo). Anyway, I loved her stories of this nature until I discovered the "bosom burners" of the later '70's and 80's. Getting quickly tired of those so-called historical romances (no history, ordinary writing and copy-cat plots), I thought I'd never find anything to top G. Heyer. So, I strayed onto the path of not-terribly well written, but yummy and hot "romantica". Good 'ol Ellora's Cave, et al. Then I picked up the re-issue of Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander a month of so ago. I was SMITTEN! Excellent Regency language skills, very good studies in mannerisms and behaviour, and a lovely plot. Oh, and the sex is hot and wonderful. I seriously doubt, however, that sodomy would be so blatently accepted in a world where homosexuality was terrifyingly illegal, but one must suspend reality a bit when dealing with fiction. Yes, I know, the Brotherhood was "secret", but it seemed very open to too many people. Servants always talk, of course, and there were a lot of servants, etc. But, nevertheless, the book was an excellent read and worth several re-readings. I'm on my third, now. I hope this author has another one in the works; regardless of subject matter, I am guessing that she is someone well worth reading in any genre. I am very sorry it took me so long to discover this book.

I gave this book two stars partly because of the first few chapters and partly because of the possibilty of what the author could have accomplished.
It starts off seeming to be a look at Regency manners and mores, it ends up being little better than an overheated romance historical novel. Where Heerenden could have continued her interesting look into an unusual partnership with a background of Regency England, she instead tried to throw in every aspect of that era. Bonaparte, slavery in America, and spies play no small part in most of the novel. The Brotherhood of Philander starts as a way not just to see into how proto-gay culture existed in the 19th century but also a clear view into the strongly segregated worlds of men and women in the period. This is clearly seen in the first few chapters of the novel and introduce ideas and characters that Heerenden manages pretty well from being anachronistic. A clear line of demarcation is shown so that one could not confuse Phyllida and Andrew with being Austen-esque caricatures.
But all the possibility is wasted on having characters chase each other around looking for codes and keys to possible French spy rings. Andrew becomes a secondary character in most of the middle and latter parts of the novel, afflicted with migraines and generally kept out of the action.
The novel does a good job of trying to limn how men and women, regardless of orientation, tried to find their way in a time where sex was seen as only an act of pleasure or procreation and not necessarily of love. But it overwhelms this laudable work with too many characters and subplots.

I thought Phyllida was too stupid to be believable, especially when presented as an very intelligent female. Also, No virginal Regency maiden would enter a marriage like that, unless forced. Even if she was attracted to her gay husband, an inexperienced female of that era would be far from titalated when observing her husband fondling other men. I have read plenty of gay fiction and Regency novels to feel comfortable in my opinion of this book.